Mini Style: Livie & Luca

My big kids only have two days left of school and then it is officially summer. To say they are excited is the understatement of the century. And not because they don't enjoy school, but because we have some big summer plans and they are anxious to get the fun started! Between travel, camps, fun in the sun, and countless hours of outdoor play, there are many demands on the summer wardrobe. The right shoes are essential to ensure every step is a joyful one, and Livie & Luca shoes embody the best of summer.

Best of Summer

Inspired by nature, travels, and vintage designs, Livie & Luca offers expertly crafted shoes for baby, toddler, and youth that can be worn everyday or for special occasions. This season's styles feature bright colors including green apple, purple, peach, and daisy blue; nautical touches such as embossed suede and compass buttons; and playful embellishments like stripes, stars, and bows. As we've grown to expect from Livie & Luca, the new styles feature high quality, durable materials paired with cushioned, breathable inner soles and padded heels, offering optimal comfort and mobility for children’s development.

“This season, the shoes are all about eye-catching colors and nautical inspiration,” says Livie & Luca co-founder Mitzi Rivas. “The spring/summer collection offers something for every child including sandals, boat shoes, and all-purpose Mary Jane styles. Combined with our high quality materials and emphasis on comfort, these shoes can be worn for nearly every occasion or outing. Each unique style has whimsical details that both kids and parents will appreciate.”

It's no surprise but the older my daughter gets, the more opinionated she becomes about her shoes and, well, just about everything. The Georgie Sandal ($60) got an enthusiastic thumb's up when my daughter realized they were her shoes and not my shoes. And I can't blame her for making the mistake. I would totally wear these shoes! (For what it's worth, I do have a pair of Livie & Luca women's shoes I adore and I sure wish they would make more.)

The Georgie Sandal is averrable in Lavender and White. The White pair are actually white, cream and black - the front is white with black stripe doodles and the heel is cream with black dot doodles with a black ankle strap. I actually picked these shoes for her because I liked the way they looked with the boys' Vintage Blue color shoes. And, the shoes look pretty darn cute with anything, including a navy dress.

For as long as I can get away with it, I will dress my boys in coordinating clothes - and shoes. I was immediately drawn to the North boat shoe for my older son and was tickled to find the Captain to match for Max. Both shoes have Vintage Blue and Vintage Camel leather and scream summer.

The North Youth Boy Shoe ($64 $44.80, also available in Little Kid sizes) has red leather detailing, too, which add a fun pop of color. Contrast stitching throughout also add some visual interest. Of course, my son couldn't care less about all that. He just likes that they're comfortable, easy to get on and off, and super comfortable.

The Captain Boy Shoe ($58 $40.60, available in Little Kid and Big Kid sizes) is arguably the most unique of the bunch we're featuring - kind of like Max. The Vintage Camel leather is embossed to look like "jute" and the cutouts add a playful touch to this closed toe sandal. Max is pretty rough on just about everything and he needs shoes to keep up with him. I like that the toes are closed so he can ride his balance bike, play at the park and generally run around like a wild man without concern for his fat little toes.

But perhaps the best thing about the shoes is that, while they are stylish and cute and look fantastic, they also let my kids be who they are, without restraint. And this, my friends, is one hundred percent who Max is:

Shop! Livie & Luca summer styles are available online at www.livieandluca.com where many styles, including new designs for summer are currently marked down. Many shoes are also available at our affiliate Zappos.